The Wildcat Sanctuary

Mission:
The Wildcat Sanctuary (TWS) is a 501c3 non-profit, no-kill big cat rescue located in Sandstone, MN. TWS provides a natural sanctuary to wild cats in need and inspires change to end the captive wildlife crisis. TWS is funded solely on private donations. The Sanctuary is a home for animals, not a zoo for people and is not open to the public. Combining natural and spacious habitats with a life free of exhibition and exploitation, TWS allows all residents to live wild at heart. As a true sanctuary, we do not buy, breed, sell or exhibit animals. Results:
TWS provides natural sanctuary to over 125 wild cats. We provide large, free-roaming habitats that offer our residents to live wild at heart. Each animal can escape extreme weather in a temperature controlled den or central animal building. Every individual has the opportunity, often for the first time in their lives, to choose a path to walk and a place to lie down. After living in a small concrete cage in the backyard of a Texas home, Sabrina the tiger, now has a free-roaming habitat with grass under her feet, a pool with a fountain and a safe environment for the rest of her life. Target demographics:
wild, exotic and big cats of the captive wildlife crisis Geographic areas served:
National Programs:
No More Wild Pets Campaign, Sponsor a wild one program, Volunteer, Feed A Feline, Help us build Wild Woodlands

Community Reviews

Just looking at The Wildcat Sanctuary's website and facebook you can tell that they really care about the animals in their care. They often post pictures and updates on all of their animals to keep people up to date and the goings on at the shelter. It's amazing to see all of these animals happy and having a good life with people that care about them.

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

The Wildcat Sanctuary provides excellent care to their rescued cats as well as enrichment to prevent boredom. Although they do not allow visitors, they have a fabulous website and youtube videos where you can really see inside the sanctuary and get to know the cats!

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

TWS is the next best thing for these awesome animals. Since they cannot be returned to the wild, sending them to a sanctuary such as TWS where they can live out their lives in dignity and peace is the best alternative. They are all living in enclosures that duplicate their natural habitats. Are cared for with love and concern. Health needs are meet immediately. Enrichment is provided so the animals do not get bored or stressed. This is an awesome sanctuary.

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

The WildCat Sanctuary: “They will never know freedom, Can they at least know compassion?“ This sanctuary not only provides compassion, but also respect and exemplary care for the cats in their charge. The cats live in spacious natural habitats and receive enrichment, expert medical care and a proper diet. TWS also works to educate the public about the serious issue of privately owned big cats in the United States and why these magnificent cats are deadly animals to have as pets. As a true sanctuary, TWS does not buy, breed, sell or exhibit animals. TWS is closed to the public, giving the cats additional privacy. You can clearly see these cats are well taken care of by the dedicated staff of TWS and are happy and healthy.

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

I am a former volunteer and mentee of Tammy Thies. I volunteered when TWS was much smaller and i've seen it grow. When I was there it was amazing to see the life a creature change, from being protective of a bowl of dirty water to become a healthy and lively animal that is accepting of compassion, as they should be. While I would love to see TWS get smaller (because there ultimately isn't a need for it due to people not purchasing and buying illegal animals) it has grown, to what I feel as, a national scale in awareness and rescues. The dedication and heart that Tammy and her staff and interns put into the TWS says a lot about the organization as a whole. Everytime I would go, I always felt that the volunteers there were passionate about being compassionate and doing even the dirtiest of jobs to make the life a wildcat, that never experience the wild, better. Education is the key to success and TWS is all about it and does an amazing job of it.

I have been aware of and a supporter of this fine organization for some.time. I donate and know the money is well spent to give these animals a good life and freedam to roam. They are sheltered, they are well fed and they are loved. They have a home for life, and still this sanctuary allows the animals natural and spacious habitat to live wild aheart. God bless them one and all

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

As a volunteer at a similar wildlife sanctuary, I am always impressed by the care and facilities provided needy wildcats at this sanctuary. Their actions have been life-saving for many of their residents and Tammy is ceaseless in her quest for perfection

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

I've supported TWS from afar after learning about their good work from a fellow volunteer at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, FL.
Both of these organizations are unique in their dedication to offering sanctuary, primo care and never breeding or exploiting their creatures. All on a tight budget and with many volunteer hours.

I just learned about the Wildcat Sanctuary this year, and since following their site and email newsletters, I can't believe how much love the people who run this organization must have for their animals. It's such a treat to get an update, photo or video, to see just how happy these big cats are in their home at TWS. I wholeheartedly support their cause and their ambition to educate the public on their mission.

Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?

Definitely

How much of an impact do you think this organization has?

Life-changing

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

2011

How did you learn about this organization?

I actually was curious about the legality of private bobcat ownership in our state, and ended up in a google search tree (googling things in different articles I became curious about) before I eventually got to TWS's website. As a professional web designer, I was very impressed with the quality of their site, both with the design but also the wealth of information. Once I got to their site, I'm sure I spent several hours reading everything and viewing all the pictures! Seriously, you guys have a great website, keep it up!

I am impressed with TWS in their ability to put the cats they rescue first and to let us "see" and learn about these animals via their website. It is amazing how the animals are doing and thriving in their habitats TWS provides for each resident, they truely look happy and well taken care of. TWS does a good job of educating the public and is always there, no matter what state, to help another cat in need. Thank you to all at TWS for all you do, you go beyond all expectation when taking care of the residents!